Will beneficiary

[Guest]

My friend is a beneficiary of a will and is entitled to 10 per cent of the estate but the executors have only offered her a little bit of cash when she knows that there is a house in the estate. What should she do? Accept what is offered or fight for her entitlement?

[Amethyst]

She should check what the actual wording of the will is - is she a residual beneficiary for 10% of what's left after everything has been finalised ( bills paid/debts settled etc) or 10% of the case in a particular bank account etc.

The property may of course be fully mortgaged or debts might swallow up any equity that was in the property etc. Asking for a copy of the final estate accounts might be an idea.

[Kenai]

We only got shown one page of the will which said entire estate. There were 4 beneficiary on there, two of them being the daughters who are the executors. I asked her if he owned the house and she said no but the other two beneficiarys know he owned the house and think he bought it outright. They showed us the bills that they had to pay and said all he had was what was in his bank account. They didn't go through probate so we're thinking they're lying about everything so they get all the money.

[ostell]

So ask the land registry about the house

[des8]

As ostell, first step is to get copy of land registry* file (cost £3 here:*https://www.gov.uk/search-property-i...-land-registry)

If the house was not owned by the deceased possibly the estate was very small.
If the house was owned by the deceased the executors should have obtained grant of probate as they will not be able to change ownership nor sell the property without it.

[Kenai]

Thanks for your advice guys! I wasn't sure how probate worked so surely if the house was in the estate then they would of had to go through probate? If it did then the estate would be shared appropriately right?*